12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law(A) will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey(B) the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law,(C) they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets(D) through Jesus Christ,(E) as my gospel(F) declares.

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12 All those who sinned without the law(A) will also perish without the law, and all those who sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For the hearers of the law(B) are not righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be declared righteous.[a] 14 So, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, instinctively(C) do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law[b] is written on their hearts.(D) Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts will either accuse or excuse them[c] 16 on the day when God judges(E) what people have kept secret, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus.(F)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 2:13 Or will be justified or acquitted
  2. Romans 2:15 The code of conduct required by the law
  3. Romans 2:15 Internal debate, either in a person or among the pagan moralists